March 10, 2013

My Sunday Morning Thrift Treasure

It's a gloomy day her in Southern Wisconsin, grey skies, constant rain, with dirty grey snow banks lining the streets of our town.

On a day like this, what could I do to bring a smile to me face and put joy in my heart? Go to the thrift store and browse around.

So after church I headed to our local Goodwill store. Walking into the store I noticed two clusters of people standing shoulder to shoulder. That means one thing, they just brought out a cart with newly donated merchandise to be placed on the shelves.

Slowly the people moved away from the carts some clutching treasures that they snagged while others left empty handed not finding anything to their liking.

I walked over to the first cart and found nothing that interested me, the second cart was almost empty, with the exception of three books in the bottom of a green bin.

I reached in and puled out this . . .

This 1911 Bible belonged to Jeanie Ada Clara Burnside

who was born in 1894

The front panel and first page were no longer attached to the spin of the book, I had to rescue this book. So for 89¢ this 1911 Bible came home with me.

Whenever I purchase books I clean the outside of the book using rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball, and if the book smells musty or if I am concerned about book mites, I will put the book inside a Ziplock bag and place it in my freezer for several days.

But I digress, while I was wiping the Bible I found several things tucked inside the pages, and they made me smile.

Here is what was tucked inside the pages of the Bible.

This 2.5" holy card

With some sage advice from Joan,Always pray to Jease (misspelled) when in trouble

This profound card is a powerful reminder for us all

A Prayer by Thomas Webb

Give me a good digestion, LordAnd also something to digestGive me a healthy body, LordWith sense enough to keep it at its bestGive me a healthy mind, Good LordTo keep the good and pure in sightWhich seeing sin is not appalledBut finds a way to get it rightGive me a mind that is not boundThat does not whimper, whine, or sighDon't let me worry over muchAbout this funny thing called "I"Give me a sense of humor LordGive me the grace to see a jokeTo get some happiness out of lifeAnd pass it on to other folk

A Kitchen PrayerFound in the Cathedral atChester, England

Lord of all pots and pans and thingsSince I have no time to be a doing lovely thingsOr watching late with Thee, or dreaming in thedawning light, or storming Heaven's gatesMake me a Saint by getting meals and washing up the plates.Warm all my kitchen with Thy love and light it with Thy PeaceForgive me all Thy worrying and make all grumbling cease,Thou who didst love to give man food in room or by the seaAccept this service that I do, I do it unto Thee.

This last item that was tucked inside the pages way in the back.

This is a clipping from October 9, 1961.How sad that the seminary did not provide an apologyor take any responsibility, but places blame on others.Makes me wonder if the owner of this Bible, Jeaniewas among the visitors to the seminary who became ill.Why else would she save this article?

This 1911 Bible will receive a place of honor in my bookshelf, as soon as it comes out of the freezer.